Fun-seekers were on Saturday in for a treat as the Ku Mingoli Bash returned with a pool party at Aero Lounge in Airwing, Lilongwe.
The Pool Party edition brought together musicians, traditional dancers and visual artists, with the event now shifting away from the previous approach of relying on international headliners.
From Saturday, the event ran into the early hours of Sunday and attracted fans despite the cold weather in the capital city, as revellers gathered to watch performances from the country’s talent.
Before the main performances in the afternoon, DJs and dance groups set the mood for the event.
The event also featured a pool experience in the afternoon, with lifestyle models adding colour to the entertainment and atmosphere around the venue.
About 8pm Diminish Band warmed up the stage with their energetic performance and prepared the crowd for the headline acts that were to follow.
Ace Jeezy, who came in as a surprise act, kept the energy levels high before Oana delivered an impressive performance.
Skhrizzy and Crispy Malawi also added to the excitement before the Malawi National Dance Troupe brought a cultural flavour to the festival with traditional dances, including Vimbuza, Malipenga nd Gule Wamkulu.
Beyond music, the event created space for visual artists who were painting days prior to the event as part of a competition.
Event directors got fans attention away from the stage for a few minutes after giving them opportunity to choose their favourite artwork.
The votes saw 21-year-old Enisa Kachikuni emerge as the winner, taing home K1 million.
Speaking after the competition, Kachikuni said the involvement of visual artists sought to expose them to large crowds at the event.
“Artists need spaces where people can see and appreciate their work. This platform has shown that visual art can be part of major entertainment events,” she said.
After the art showcase, attention returned to the main stage where Teddy Makadi, one of the headline performers, delivered a romantic performance.
Carrying a bouquet of roses, Makadi shared the flowers with fans before performing some of his popular songs, including Mmalere, Thibaut, Missing You and Mtima.
He was later joined by Kineo and Gwamba for their collaboration Alole, a moment that excited fans who sang along to the song.
The event’s headline act, Namadingo, followed with a performance that took fans through different stages of his music career.
Dressed in his trademark white shirt and black pair of trousers, Namadingo performed some of his well-known songs including Mtendere, Maury and Tuli.
The performances continued with Joe Ikon, Zeze Kingston, Skeffa Chimoto, Lulu and KOTN who brought their own energy to the stage as the festival entered the final hours.
SAL Limited chief executive officer and creative director Shadreck Kalukusha said the decision to focus on local artists is about creating a platform where local artists can be celebrated and receive the same recognition given to international acts.
“We want local talent to shine to a point where we respect our own artists and enjoy them just as much as international artists,” he said.
Kalukusha said the event also sought to bring diversity by going beyond music and creating space for different forms of art.
